Raised in changing climatic conditions arid conditions of the Volga region

Abstract

The author proved the high adaptive abilities of sheep of the Stavropol breed, indicators of meat productivity and meat quality, as well as the possibility of further breeding of this breed in arid conditions. The research was conducted in CJSC "New Life" of the Novouzensky district of the Saratov region. The object of research was purebred rams of the Stavropol breed of different intrabreed productivity types. It was found that sheep of wool and wool-meat types grew equally from birth to weaning from mothers, but at 7.5 months the wool-meat type had a live weight of 4.83% higher compared to wool. Morphobiochemical parameters in young animals of both groups were within acceptable norms, but a slight excess was found in the wool-meat type. Sheep of the wool-meat type were superior to wool in pre–slaughter live weight by 4.83%, the mass of the paired carcass – 9.22%, in slaughter yield - 1.73%. The young animals of the wool-meat type had more protein by 0.60%, the wool-fat by 0.70%, so their meat is more complete.